On beautiful spring days there is a lot of activity at the Königsdorf glider airfield. Several young people are currently working on their glider licenses there. A visit to the runway.
Königsdorf – There is a lot of activity on Thursday morning at the gliding center (SFZ) in Königsdorf. Every few minutes a sailor takes to the skies. The thermals are right, there are pleasant spring temperatures, no fog obscures the view: optimal conditions for the aircraft. A lot of SFZ members are bustling back and forth on the huge site. Using a winch, the gliders are pulled into the air and accelerated. During their flights they can reach a height of several hundred to several thousand meters.
Königsdorf Gliding Center: Volunteer flight instructors train young people
A good hundred meters away, Fabian (15), Felix (15) and Phileas (14) made themselves comfortable in a wooden arbor with press officer Mathias Schunk. Equipped with specialties and liver loaf rolls, the quartet watches the hustle and bustle. The three young young pilots are working on their glider license.
They are trained by the club's volunteer flight instructors. “Takeoffs and landings are the most important thing,” emphasizes Schunk. “For example, what do I do if a rope breaks? “How do I control the aircraft?” he lists. In contrast to a car, the pilot in a glider cannot brake. “That does make a difference.”
At home in Königsdorf I always watched the planes from the window. At some point I stopped by the airport with a friend.
Young pilot Fabian from Königsdorf
Young people can start gliding from the age of 14. The pilot's license is available to those aged 16 and over. Fabian follows the start of a machine with a double seat with fascination. “At home in Königsdorf I always watched the planes from the window,” says the 15-year-old. “At some point I stopped by the airport with a friend.”
Seatmate Phileas grew up flying. His parents own a motorized airplane. “I want to fly with it later,” says the 14-year-old. “So gliding is a good start for me.”
Glider pilots in Königsdorf: There are nine subjects on the timetable for young pilots
Felix was allowed to board a trial flight for the first time in August 2020. The Schäftlarn resident has now passed his theory test. Now the 15-year-old is preparing for the practical test. Most of the theory lessons take place online and on weekends.
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It consists of nine subjects, including aviation law, flight safety and human performance, reports the young person. “I found the lessons relaxed, but the material for the exam was good.” At the same time, the prospective pilots are allowed to try out their first flights - initially only accompanied by a flight instructor.
“If you fly alone in the next step, you bear complete responsibility. There’s something about that,” enthuses Fabian. “Without a motor you are pretty dependent on nature. Every time you are faced with the challenge of covering as much distance as possible,” adds Felix. Instead of an engine, gliders use thermals - warmed air that separates from the ground and rises upwards - to gain altitude. That needs to be learned. At the beginning it often happens that the newly qualified pilots land in fields and have to be picked up with a trailer, reveals Schunk with a wink.
Without a motor you are pretty dependent on nature. Every time you face the challenge of covering as much distance as possible.
Young pilot Fabian from Königsdorf
How long it takes for an applicant to get their pilot's license also depends on the number of flying hours required. “It's like a car driving license; some people need more practice, others less.” However, the press officer is certain about one point: “A car driving license costs more.” The big advantage of the SFZ: through working hours, for example aircraft maintenance in winter members earn flying hours. For every two hours worked, you get one hour of flying.
Tasks that Fabian likes to do in order to get closer to his big goal: a 1000 kilometer flight in the Alpine region. He knows that fast pilots can cover the distance in eight to nine hours. “When it comes to gliding, a tour like this is a milestone.” This makes him even more eagerly looking forward to his 16th birthday. Then hopefully he will have the ticket in his hands. The first step towards his big dream.
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